ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

I was taken by fiddle music in 1976, when the New England contra dance band sound came spilling out of an old, ivy-covered hall in South Hadley, Massachusetts. As I opened the door, the music flooded over and through me, settling in my heart as true love. Since that night, I have been devoted to this American folk music spirit and our heritage of music the local folk made, and still make, to compliment the rest of living; sounds for celebrating, dancing, and being joyful, for telling stories and history, worshipping, mourning, for finding hope and, of course, for passing time.

I love to collect and share music wherever I am, sometimes seeking out particular musicians and festivals, but mostly making the best of what I hear around me. For me, the spirit and humanity shared by collective music making is often as important as the music itself.

Most of the music on this project came through oral tradition around campfires and kitchen tables, at festivals, concerts, workshops and sessions and most of it is from the Piedmont and Appalachian traditions. The majority of the basic tracks are recorded live, the songs taking on the improvisatory qualities inherent to a style of folk music that is more spontaneous than historic.

Phil Wiggins@ harmonica is simply sublime and Lauren Sheehans's soulful voice and great guitar gets better every time you listen and truly captivates you. A record to play and play and play and play .....

This recording captures the spirit and intent of musicians
who play solely for the love of doing it. For these folks
it's just another language rather than some flashy athletic stunt with electonics and contrived hooks. This is honest, solid kitchen music and Lauren's natural, sexy voice and supple picking is the perfect cure for high blood pressure.

It was difficult to decide which of L. Sheehan's CDs to choose for my first buy. The title on Some Old Lonesome Day was appealing to me and when I saw the contents I knew it was a good place to start. I am delighted with the mix of tunes and enchanted with all the music. I am so glad to have found this artist and to have this music to enjoy. It has whetted my appetite to have more. It is a treasure.

masterfully paced emotional journeys..leaves us living in her songs’ images

Lauren Sheehan has a lusty voice that makes the werewolf howl and the willow weep. Her haunting renditions of 14 American mountain and blues songs on her new CD, Some Old Lonesome Day will reverberate in your mind. Teamed with harp virtuoso Phil Wiggins (Cephas and Wiggins) and some of the Pacific Northwest’s choicest sidemen, Sheehan transforms her list of obscure and familiar material into a series of masterfully paced emotional journeys in a way that leaves us living in her songs’ images. Since 1981 Sheehan has honed her chops touring Ireland, Canada, and the US, playing concerts, clubs, and dances, and at Port Townsend, Washington’s Festival of American Fiddle Tunes and Country Blues Workshop. A legend around musical campfires in Maine and Oregon, she is known to celebrate daybreak with denizens of the long smoky night. Sink into Some Old Lonesome Day and you have the best seat in the middle of the musicians by the long burning firelight.

I agree with Ren Thurston's comment about Phil Wiggins' harmonica playing but what really impresses me about the album is the way all the instruments (and voice) come together so beautifully. Wonderful album.

I was listening to KBOO one night and heard Lauren Sheehan sing The Werewolf and was immediately captivated by her soulful voice and the wonderful blues harp. I went online and found the CD at CD Baby, bought it and now have been playing it over and over for several days. The arrangements are rootsy, the musicianship excellent, and the songs are all absolutely authentic. It's nice to hear something so true to the music and not overproduced. There's some great harp playing on this CD and Sheehan is a mountain siren sure to lure anyone to her cabin.